Teel thrilled coach stays
By ADITI KINKHABWALA, STAFF WRITER
Date: 12-08-2007, Saturday
Section: SPORTS
Edtion: All Editions
PISCATAWAY The message popped onto his phone and Mike Teel stopped breathing.
Teel's teammates had been calling and his family had been calling. The Rutgers' quarterback had been scouring the Internet and keeping his TV volume jacked high, and late Thursday night, when that message announcing a 7 a.m. team meeting came through, the rumors, the gossip, the questions — it all became frighteningly real.
"It was a long night," Teel said Friday, frankly and with obvious relief, for it was after that night and at that 7 a.m. meeting that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano ended anxiety. Schiano is staying at Rutgers.
In a Friday morning statement, Rutgers' seventh-year football coach confirmed conversations with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin, and then said, "I have decided to remove my name from consideration."
Schiano, who is 37-46 all time and who with the Jan. 5 International Bowl will have taken Rutgers to a first-ever third consecutive bowl game, met with Martin at length Wednesday. By Thursday, a source close to the coach said there was "mutual interest," with talks having progressed to a discussion of numbers.
"It was a lot of question marks," junior wideout Tiquan Underwood said of what was an agonizing night for the Scarlet Knights once that news had broken. "He's the reason guys come here."
It was exactly one year and three days ago that Schiano first reminded his team of that. That day, Teel staked out a spot in the coaches' wing, watched a live feed of Schiano saying he'd declined Miami's request for a chat about its coaching opening, and then said, "I never had any doubt." This time around, Teel confessed to a lot more angst.
"I didn't know. I didn't know," the Don Bosco product said, repeating himself as he searched for a way to describe just what he was thinking during a sleepless Thursday night. Teel said he kept ESPN on, that he and his housemates tried distracting themselves with video games, but that really, "I wanted to talk to Coach. I wanted to call him and find out what's happening, and hear from him. You can't hear from ESPN or what you're reading. You've got to talk to the source."
Turns out, even if Teel had been able to reach Schiano on Thursday night, his coach may not have had an answer for him. The 41-year old reportedly wrangled with the decision all night, and while he didn't want to comment any further beyond his morning statement, it was, by all other accounts, indeed a decision. A source said Martin offered Schiano $2.2 million, a raise over the $1.5 million resigned coach Lloyd Carr was paid and over the $1.7 million Schiano is in line to earn this year.
Michigan is in the midst of a $266 million stadium renovation, while Rutgers' Board of Governors just declined to vote on a proposed $102 million expansion to Rutgers' 44,000-seat stadium. Michigan has broken ground on a new indoor practice facility, Michigan's coach has never had to lobby for state, or institutional, support, and Michigan is long established as a national player.
Schiano has long said he wants to build all that at Rutgers. He signed a contract extension in February that ties him to Rutgers through 2016 and he just moved into a new house he built on campus land in October. The Wyckoff native has insisted that New Jerseyans "deserve" a big-time program and, as Underwood highlighted Friday, the coach has sold many a recruit on staying home to do just that.
And so Friday, in that team meeting, Schiano said he wasn't lying when he first promised all that. And on the first day of the winter's first official visit weekend, Schiano sent a far stronger message than the Scarlet Knights' 7-5 season could.
Illustrations/Photos: ***
Keywords: COLLEGE, FOOTBALL, COACH
Business Editors
OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2002
International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) (TSX:IDC) reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2002/2003 today.
IDC President and CEO Ron Clifton commented, "We are very pleased to be posting numbers printed in black ink after two consecutive quarters of losses. We have restructured the company to cut costs moving forward and we are starting to see the effects this quarter. We have been successful in conserving our positive cash situation while continuing to push hard on sales."
The results are as follows: Nine months ending 31 October, 2002 31 October, 2001 Revenues $11,477,431 $16,201,122 EBITDA ($1,798,526) $103,667 Net Income (loss) ($2,635,342) ($1,033,566) Basic Earnings (loss) per common share ($0.07) ($0.03) Three months ending 31 October, 2002 31 October, 2001 Revenues $3,809,275 $6,745,274 EBITDA $230,099 ($103,154) Net Income (loss) $38,510 ($524,003) Basic Earnings (loss) per common share nil ($0.02)
Revenues for the quarter were $3.8 million, down by $2.9 million from the same period last year. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) was a positive $230,099 and Net Income was $38,510 for the quarter compared to an EBITDA of -$103,154 and loss of $524,003 in Net Income for the same period last year.
The company's cash position is $2.2 million at the end of the quarter, an increase of $.8 million from the beginning of this year. Total working capital at the end of the quarter is $4.1 million, down from $6.8 million at the beginning of the year.
Mr. Clifton continued, "These financial results show a significant improvement over our second quarter results. The restructuring we did at the end of that quarter has allowed us to consolidate operations and streamline the company in order to operate more efficiently. Meanwhile, in terms of new orders, the third quarter was an important one for IDC-we booked our first e-cinema system and we won an important telemedicine project in Mexico. The company's strategic focus on applications and our systems integration expertise give us a key advantage over our competition.
"In September we successfully launched new hardware and software products that will lead IDC into the next generation of satellite datacasting. This includes the new SFX and SRA family of satellite router and server appliances, as well as Datacast XD, a sophisticated content distribution software that supercedes IDC's five-year-old EchoNet product. The initial response to these new products has been positive. We have initial orders, and we are looking forward to shipping the first units to customers in coming weeks.
"I'm also pleased to announce that our subsidiary Storm Internet continues to grow and that they have turned a corner on profitability this quarter. Storm increased sales and added revenue to the corporation as a whole. This positions us well as a service and technology leader for the growing number of non-urban broadband connectivity initiatives."
Mr. Clifton concluded, "Demand for IDC products and services remains strong. We are pleased with our results this past quarter but it is still too early to tell if this is the 'light at the end of the tunnel' in terms of the current economic environment. Although we continue to see slippage in projects as customers postpone capital spending, we remain confident that when the market recovers IDC will be ideally positioned. In the meantime, our top priorities are still careful management, conserving cash and staying focused on profitability."
About International Datacasting Corp.:
IDC (TSX: IDC) provides advanced products, systems and services for the implementation of broadband wireless infrastructure networks used to distribute multimedia data. IDC is at the forefront of delivering IP-based wireless datacasting solutions, via both satellite and terrestrial "last-mile" technologies. IDC's products are in demand for high-speed Internet infrastructure, enterprise networks, distance learning, and multimedia content distribution. IDC is a recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Canada Export Award for Innovation and Technology Achievement. IDC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, as are its subsidiaries Storm Internet and CDS Prometheus. IDC has an established international network of partners and distributors and installations in more than 40 countries worldwide. Visit IDC on the web at www.intldata.ca.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that may involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with IDC's growth, the development of the satellite datacasting market, regulatory risks, intellectual property infringement and other factors. IDC assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect IDC's financial and business results is included in the public documents IDC files from time to time with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
MURRAY HILL, N.J., July 9 /PRNewswire/ --
BOC Gases will conduct an open house and dedication ceremony at its Coffeyville, Kansas industrial gases production facility on Monday, July 9, 2001. The 3200 ton-per-day plant -- one of the largest in the U. S. -- provides high purity nitrogen, oxygen and compressed dry air to the Farmland Industries Coffeyville complex, and liquid nitrogen, oxygen and argon for the merchant market.
Farmland uses large volumes of oxygen in its petroleum coke-based gasification plant. The oxygen partially oxidizes the petroleum coke at high temperatures to produce syngas, which Farmland then reacts with nitrogen to produce ammonia for fertilizer.
Farmland's use of petroleum coke in the gasification process in place of natural gas in the more conventional steam-reforming process, meets several challenging objectives. It takes a very low value, "bottom-of-the-barrel" refinery by-product and converts it to a useful chemical product. It also reduces fertilizer costs and provides a stable, low-cost feedstock to the chemical process operations. As a huge added bonus, the resulting syngas contains nitrogen and sulfur in forms that are very easy to remove downstream, as opposed to oxide forms of those compounds typically found when solid fuels like coal and petroleum coke are burned in conventional boilers. In conventional boiler applications, very expensive scrubbers are required to remove nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
Randy Hull, BOC vice president/general manager, Key Customer Group, said, "This technology has significant potential for the refinery, chemical and power generating industries, especially during times of soaring energy costs and increasing demands for cleaner fuels. While many other ammonia-producing facilities were forced to shut down due to the high cost of natural gas, Farmland was able to cost-effectively continue and even increase operations using their petroleum coke gasifier."
Farmland Industries, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., (http://www.farmland.com) is a diversified farmer-owned cooperative focused on meeting the needs of its local cooperative- and farmer-owners. Farmland and its joint venture partners supply local cooperatives with agricultural inputs, such as crop nutrients, crop protection products, petroleum products and animal feeds. As part of its farm-to-table mission, Farmland adds value to its farmer-owners' grain and livestock by processing and marketing high-quality grain, pork, beef and catfish products throughout the United States and in more than 60 countries.
The BOC Group (NYSE: BOX), which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, is one of the largest and most global of the world's leading gases companies. It employs nearly 43,000 people and had annual sales of nearly $5.8 billion in 2000. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at http://www.boc.com.
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X67434061
Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) July 02, 2011
Idolian.com, a dealer for Android Tablet PC s in California is giving away a free Android Tablet PC as part of their marketing efforts to launch their newest 7 inch Tablet PC. Idolian.com has hopped on social media bandwagon with Facebook as its starting point. Along with its TouchTab priced at $249(On Sale for $199 until 7-4-2011) Idolian's new tablet pc, TurboTab is sure to peak some interest with a starting price of only $299. Since TurboTab was introduced earlier this month, TurboTab is getting huge attractions from all of its customers.
The first contest has launched July 1st, 2011 is simple and easy to get in on. Facebook users are simply asked to become a Fan of their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/idoliantab by pressing "LIKE". One of the first 500 fans who "LIKE" Idolian's Facebook page will automatically be entered to win the new Idolian TurboTab. The contest is only open to fans 18 years or older. Idolian.com is planning on giving away up to 5 more TurboTab promotions after this contest is done.
"We're just happy to get our name out there. A lot of what you buy on the internet is heavily dependent on our customer's reviews. Everyone I've met who has had a chance to use an Ipad or Galaxy tab has always wanted their own tablet, we're trying to making it affordable to own." said Arthur Lopez, Director of Operations for Idolian.com. "We're all excited about this Facebook contest, I hope it would be the first of many. "
Idolian.com's motto is "Tablets for Everyone". They have been partnering with wholesalers, local businesses and Android developers to continuously find new uses and ways to market their tablets for everyone. Idolian.com is a division of Idolian Mobile, Inc. Idolian mobile, inc is a FCC licensed telecommunications carrier.
For more information, please visit http://www.idolian.com
###
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/7/prweb8616123.htm
Asian stocks fell for a seventh consecutive day on Friday, led by selling in technology counters on wariness about the broader economic outlook, while the euro held above one-week lows as worries about the euro-zone's debt problems outweighed a likely interest rate rise by the European Central Bank next month.
European shares are set for a weaker start, with bookmakers seeing main indexes down between 0.2-0.4 percent.
Economic data from two of Asia's economic engines - China's trade data and India's industrial output were broadly in line with market estimates and failed to provide any fresh triggers to cautious traders.
"Equity valuations are neither expensive nor cheap if you look at most markets in Asia today. I don't think valuations are flashing a buy or sell signal at this point in time," said Binay Chandgothia, chief investment officer at Principal Global Investors.
"So you keep going back to other factors, i.e. your perceptions on growth, your perceptions on macro policy," he said. His firm manages more than $200 billion in assets worldwide.
Japan's Nikkei - trading at just 1.1 times book value, the cheapest in the region -- jumped more than 1 percent, though gave up a big chunk of its gains by the close.
Australian shares were up 0.2 percent, easing slightly from the 1 percent gains after they opened, while Korean shares turned lower pressured by an interest rate hike.
The MSCI index for Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.4 percent, heading for its seventh consecutive week of losses and is down for the year.
The Chinese stock market also trended lower on concerns over further monetary tightening from Beijing. Chinese shares were the worst performers in the region in May.
Shares of Tencent Holdings , China's most valuable Internet company, dropped 3.7 percent to a two-month low and weighed on the broad market in Hong Kong, underscoring the bearishness in technology shares on Friday.
The MSCI index for Asia-Pacific technology shares outside Japan led declines, falling two percent, led by a 7 percent fall in smartphone maker HTC Corp and weakness in Hynix Semiconductor .
BONDS DRAW FUNDS Even as equities registered yet another torrid week, bonds continued to outperform as data from fund tracker EPFR Global showed emerging market bond funds received new money aggregating $1.4 billion in the week to June 8, an eight-month high, compared to tiny outflows from equity funds.
Measured in dollar-adjusted terms, total returns for the broader JP Morgan GBI-EM Asian index is nearly 2.5 percent so far this year with gains set to accelerate as most Asian central banks are set to keep off from tightening policy further.
This week alone, four out of five central banks in the region held interest rates steady with Australia and Indonesia even injecting a tone of dovishness in their policy statements.
"EM is slowing due to a number of factors, one of which is the impact of increased tightening as a result of inflationary pressures brought on by excess global liquidity conditions," said Robert O Abad, a U.S.-based analyst with Western Asset Management, which oversees over $480 billion in assets.
Expectations of further quantitative easing by the Fed also receded after the unexpectedly strong U.S. trade data offered a glimpse of hope that the world's biggest economy may be recovering quickly.
Abad said that although the end of QE2 would be negative for technical flows into risky markets, there was an upside.
"It would be a positive for the real economy side of EM as a deceleration in capital inflows would mitigate the need for further tightening and capital controls which only curtail growth," he said.
In currency markets, the strong U.S. exports data and the festering euro zone debt crisis, pulled the euro down to a one-week low against the dollar, even after the European Central Bank hinted at a July interest rate hike.
With the euro on the back foot, the dollar bounced to a one-week high against a basket of major currencies. The dollar index briefly rose as high as 74.297, well off a one-month low of 73.506 set earlier in the week.
Bonds suffered with yields on ten-year U.S. Treasury notes rising back to near the 3 percent line after dipping to a low 2.94 percent earlier this week.
Brent crude oil prices extended gains to a one-month high of nearly $120 per barrel after OPEC's surprise failure to reach a deal on raising output raised concerns of tighter supplies later in the year.
Copyright Financial Mirror. All right reserved.
Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
Byline: James Morrison, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
PRESS MINISTERHACKED
The press minister at the Bangladeshi Embassy is in Washington, not Scotland. He has not lost his passport or credit cards, and he does not need your money.
Swapan K. Saha made all that clear in an email Tuesday to Embassy Row, as he explained that someone hacked into his Yahoo account on Monday and sent out urgent appeals for cash.
This is a fake email, Mr. Saha said. Please ignore the message.
The fraudulent message sent under his name with his real email address asked recipients to wire money to a phone number in Britain.
I made a trip to Aberdeen, Scotland, and had my bag stolen from me with my passport and credit cards in it, the fake message said.
The phony press minister whined about his lack of money to pay his hotel bill and buy an airline ticket. Then, he said, an idea struck him.
I was thinking of asking you to lend me some quick funds that I can give back as soon as I get in, he said, adding a note of urgency.
I really need to be on the next available flight.
Mr. Saha, a former chief news editor of Bangladesh's BSS national news agency, was the victim of something called phishing, a type of Internet scam.
Fortunately for many recipients, the email came with a warning of suspicious content.
RELIGION VS. SLAVERY
A top U.S. diplomat praised the role of religion in combating slavery, as he urged government leaders to protect refugees from smugglers who deal in human cargo.
Religion has always spread among people treated like the dregs of society. Faith has always been a crutch for those who didn't have anyone to turn to, said Luis CdeBaca, at a recent conference at the Vatican.
He noted how Christianity gave hope to slaves in ancient Rome and how the Prophet Mohammed was an emancipator. Some accounts say the founder of the Islamic religion freed 40,000 slaves.
Mr. CdeBaca, ambassador-at-large to combat human trafficking, also appealed to foreign governments to protect the large wave of North African refugees from modern slave traders.
Sending them back to the Arab countries in political upheaval also could send them into the hands of human traffickers, he said, according to news reports from the conference in Rome earlier this month.
Mr. CdeBaca also urged governments to look for potential signs of victims of slave traders.
You don't fight trafficking on the borders because people don't yet know they are trafficking victims, he said. "It's only when they get to where they are going that they are enslaved.
People should be keeping an eye on where these refugees end up, what kind of jobs they are being put into and how they are treated.
Mr. CdeBaca is a former federal prosecutor who was the lead trial attorney in one of the largest slavery cases in U.S. history, which involved more than 300 Chinese and Vietnamese workers in a garment factory in American Samoa.
REBELS IN WASHINGTON
President Obama is inviting Libyan rebels to open an office in Washington in a step that brings the United States closer to giving diplomatic recognition to the provisional government in Benghazi.
Jeffrey Feltman, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, delivered the message Tuesday on a visit to the rebel capital in Benghazi, where he held talks with members of the National Transitional Council.
He told reporters that Congress might vote soon to freeze some Libyan funds that could then be used to provide humanitarian aid for victims of the civil war against dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Meanwhile, the rebels announced plans to send an official envoy to France, the first country to recognize the provisional government.
* Call Embassy Row at 202-636-3297 or e-mail jmorrison@washingtontimes.com. The column is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The Department of Veterans Affairs held a dedication ceremony today to dedicate a new 50-kilowatt wind turbine at Massachusetts National Cemetery. The 120-foot tall structure is projected to produce up to 95 percent of the cemetery's annual electricity usage which will allow it to operate almost entirely on renewable energy.
Under the leadership of Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, who flipped the switch at today's wind turbine dedication, VA is transitioning into a 21st century organization that better serves America's Veterans. "Nationally, VA continues to expand its investment in renewable sources of energy to promote our Nation's energy independence, save taxpayer dollars, and improve care for our Veterans and their families," said Shinseki.
Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve Muro also attended and gave remarks. "With one of VA's first wind turbine projects, the Massachusetts National Cemetery is leading the way in the use of renewable energy while providing the burial benefits that New England Veterans and their families have earned," Muro said.
The wind turbine project was funded through a $553,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant and is part of an overall VA energy conservation initiative that includes renewable energy generation technologies, metering systems, and energy conservation and water-saving measures. In total, the renewable energy systems awarded represent more than nine megawatts of planned power generating capacity from solar, wind, and cogeneration technologies.
In fiscal year (FY) 2010 alone, VA's renewable energy accomplishments included awarding 17 solar energy projects, one new wind turbine, one geothermal system, and six combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The commitment by VA to clean energy in FY 2011 continues through contracts to implement seven solar energy projects, two wind turbines, six geothermal systems, and one renewable CHP system, and VA expects to award 19 additional projects before the end of the fiscal year. Once completed, VA's FY 2011 awarded renewable energy projects will generate an estimated 46 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This is enough electricity to meet the annual needs of approximately 4,100 U.S. households.
For information on the Massachusetts National Cemetery or the wind turbine project, call the cemetery office at 508-563-7113. To make burial arrangements at the time of need, call the national cemetery scheduling office at 800-535-1117. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.
VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres of land.
Keywords: Clean Energy, Energy Generation, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Wind Turbine.
This article was prepared by Ecology, Environment & Conservation editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Ecology, Environment & Conservation via VerticalNews.com.
CRM Leader Unveils Three New Modules in Response to Marketplace Demand
CHICAGO, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sword Ciboodle, a provider of customer oriented business software and services, today announced three new product modules in response to a new marketplace trend the Company has branded, the Customer Engagement Continuum. The Customer Engagement Continuum promotes customer choice, which Sword Ciboodle is empowering organizations to provide in the form of a comprehensive bundle of module software that enables their customers to do business on their terms.
Customers have become more mobile, judicious with time, demanding of simplicity, and less tolerant with business-driven organizational procedures and policies. In response to this new behavior, and the changing role of the contact center as well as buying behavior of the market, Sword Ciboodle has created three solutions designed to offer a greater range of choice.
The new modules focus on the engagement channels that matter most: contact center and self-service. Ultimately, as this module set grows over time, the Sword Ciboodle proposition will enable organizations to holistically embrace new consumer behavior and manage all facets of various customer interactions for a better overall customer experience.
"It's all about customer choice," said Paul White, CEO of Sword Ciboodle Americas. "Whether the customer wants to interact over the phone, internet or in person, we have tapered the process and made the experience rewarding. Good service is complex and we bullet-tested these modules to ensure all issues can be handled, resolved quickly with the goal of goodwill and loyalty as a byproduct."
Utilizing over 20 years of experience developing effective contact center technology solutions, Sword Ciboodle, and their team of CRM experts, created modules to meet the demands of the changing customer engagement continuum:
* Ciboodle One - Sword Ciboodle's One is a console for interacting with customers for contact center agents and a window into the customer for back office experts. It provides a 360-degree view of customers, their preferences, their interactions and their products. The intelligent desktop empowers agents, reduces operating costs and improves the entire customer experience.
* Ciboodle Flow - Sword Ciboodle's Flow manages end to end customer requests across people, process and time, whether it entails: service requests, correspondence handling, complaints management, dispute resolution, help desk issues, fault reporting and resolution. Documents, previous call notes, scanned images / diagrams, transcripts and other relevant sources are able to be referenced with a click of a mouse to resolve or inform.
* Ciboodle Live - Sword Ciboodle's Live offers self-service capabilities to users for a "do it yourself" experience. Ciboodle Live addresses this mindset through a cohesive set of web offerings, which entail such self-service portals as online chat, web forms and click to call. With these options at their fingertips, customers will achieve their goals quickly, leading organizations to reduce cost to serve and improving the overall customer experience.
But it doesn't stop there, White confirms that the company has development underway to launch more modules, "The Customer Engagement Continuum embraces every angle, every dialogue, every service interaction and every channel," added White. "We want to be the customer's channel for them to get what they need from the business that they choose to give their business to. We are developing a series of additional modules utilizing preferred communication methods which will allow our customers to provide a truly rounded customer engagement strategy."
"For a CRM company to be smart about business, it must listen to actual users, take their input and build the program around their needs and quirks," said Paul Greenberg, President of The 56 Group, LLC. "Sword Ciboodle's approach is a refreshing one because it's built around the jobs that people actually do in the real world, as opposed to features and functions they hope that people would want."
ABOUT SWORD CIBOODLE
Part of the global Sword Group, Sword Ciboodle delivers award-winning, process-managed CRM software services to contact centres worldwide. With staff located across 3 continents, the company's customer service software helps clients achieve higher revenues from their customers and reduce operational costs through a cross-channel single intelligent desktop , web based self-service, case management software and more.
Sword Ciboodle is consistently recognised by industry analysts as one of the world's leading customer-centric technology providers. Clients include Sony, Admiral, Vodafone, Sears, BGL Group, Standard Bank and Eskom.
Sword Ciboodle has been featured in the prestigiousGartner Magic Quadrant, CRM Customer Service Contact Centers, for five consecutive years.
For more information, please visit www.sword-ciboodle.com.
| Rosemarie Esposito |
| Dukas Public Relations |
| P: 646.808.3611 |
| rosemarie@dukaspr.com |
SOURCE Sword Ciboodle
Extranet use among independent broker-dealers and the financial planners they serve is on the rise as these firms take a better look at how to use the Internet to improve their businesses.
The recently released "Second Annual Intranet and Extranet Survey," conducted by Austin, Texas-based intranet/extranet consultants Amicus Networks under the auspices of the International Association for Financial Planning, found that not only are more broker-dealers and financial planners installing extranets, but they are looking at how to use extranets to increase access to information, maximize information available to end-users, and reduce the flow of paper endemic to any financial services operation.
The study defined an intranet as a secure site that uses Web technology but is generally not accessible via the Internet. An extranet was defined as a secure intranet made accessible to authorized users via the Internet.
Amicus, sent out questionnaires to 1,000 randomly selected members of the IAFP's practitioner and broker-dealer divisions. Ninety-four individuals responded and were asked their opinions about their usage of intranets and extranets. The bulk of respondents, 77 percent, were in a financial planning practice, and 12 percent worked for broker-dealers.
The survey found that all of the respondents use a computer nearly every day in their businesses, up substantially from the prior survey, and that computer and Internet use is also spreading quickly, according to Mihran Aroian, vice president of sales for Amicus.
Sixty-two percent of respondents use the Internet daily, the survey found, and 90 percent of them have full access to the Internet at work, versus 57 percent last year.
Over the past year, the financial services industry has shifted away from using the Internet solely for a web marketing presence to using it for business communication and transaction processing.
Part of the driving force behind this shift, according to Mr. Aroian, was the desire of many companies to get out of paper distribution. In an analysis done of paperwork costs for a 1,200 rep broker-dealer, Mr. Aroian said that the cost of shipping bimonthly commission costs, monthly, 12b-1 statements, a monthly newsletter, weekly updates, forms and product information, and the necessary overnight shipping, can come to almost $230,000 a year. By contrast, an extranet, annualized, will cost a firm $100,000 a year.
Another benefit of having an extranet is that a lot of clearing firms that work with broker-dealers are starting to deliver their trading systems over the internet, Mr. Aroian said.
This means a broker can actually do trades for his or her client from a laptop. "It used to be done through dedicated phone lines, which is very expensive," Mr. Aroian said. "Getting access via extranets is much more cost-effective."
Mr. Aroian said that extranets could enable insurance agents to keep track of their clients' applications on-line, instead of having to telephone or email the home office for a response.
Broker-dealers are responding to financial planner needs by integrating more complex business applications into their extranets. Finns are focusing on integrating news and quotation services, wire orders, client statements, licensing and registration information, and compliance information.
Mr. Aroian emphasized that the number of broker-dealers putting in extranets is increasing quickly. "At this point, 25 independent broker-dealers have some kind of extranet, whereas a year ago, only five did," he said.
"What we're seeing is an education curve people had to go through. People have done their brochure sites. Now they're asking, `how do we then turn this into a way to do business?'" he said.
Additionally, average Americans are getting more computer literate and savvy and want more computer literacy from their investment counselors.
"The community of investors is moving on-line, and broker-dealers have to follow that path," he said.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Merriman Curhan Ford (NASDAQ: MERR) announced today that it has hired John W. Chambers and Michael A. Margolis, R.Ph. as managing directors in its health care investment banking practice. Chambers, in addition to heading the practice, will serve on the investment bank's management and commitment committees.
"John and Michael are strong investment bankers with excellent health care transaction experience and deep industry contacts," said Jon Merriman, chief executive officer of Merriman Curhan Ford. "As a veteran investment banker, John will help us establish Merriman Curhan Ford as a premier platform for emerging-growth companies in the life sciences space, and will be an added voice of experience and leadership on the management committee. Their skills and corporate client base also complements Panel Intelligence, our primary market research subsidiary, as well as our strengths in equity research and institutional sales and trading. John and Michael have what it takes to advise emerging-growth life sciences companies in this difficult financing environment. I welcome both of them to the firm."
Chambers and Margolis will be based out of the firm's New York office.
Chambers was most recently co-head of investment banking at Rodman & Renshaw. He has also held senior-level health care and biotechnology banking positions at SG Cowen, Lehman Brothers, UBS and Salomon Smith Barney. Chambers has executed a significant number of banking transactions, strategic transactions and restructurings across all health care sectors. Chambers earned his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Union College.
Margolis was most recently senior vice president of health care investment banking at Rodman & Renshaw. He had extensive financial and pharmaceutical industry experience before joining Rodman. Margolis worked at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in several roles, including as a director in the global business development and licensing group. He was an equity research analyst at Ursus Capital, and he began his career as at Eli Lilly & Company as a senior pharmaceutical representative. Margolis is a registered pharmacist with an M.B.A. from New York University's Stern School of Business and a pharmacy degree from Rutgers University, College of Pharmacy.
About Merriman Curhan Ford
Merriman Curhan Ford (NASDAQ:MERR) is a financial services firm focused on fast-growing companies and the institutions who invest in them. The company offers high-quality investment banking, equity research, institutional services, primary market research, asset management and corporate & venture services, and specializes in four growth industry sectors: CleanTech, Consumer/Internet/Media, Health Care and Tech/Telecom. For more information, please go to www.mcfco.com.
Note to Investors
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2008. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2008, together with this press release and the financial information contained herein, is available on our website by going to www.mcfco.com and clicking on "Investor Relations."
New Version of Internet's Most Popular Navigator Now Available on Net
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Netscape Communications Corp. today announced Netscape Navigator(TM) 1.1, a significantly enhanced version of its popular network navigator that gives users access to richer content and new applications on the Internet. The beta version of Netscape Navigator 1.1 is available immediately for downloading for educational and non-profit use and for evaluation by commercial users.
The 1.1 version builds on the success of the original Netscape Navigator, which already accounts for more than 75 percent of browser traffic on the Internet, according to statistics from popular Web sites. Netscape Navigator 1.1 includes sophisticated new features such as the Netscape Client Application Programming Interface (NCAPI) for easy integration with third party applications, advanced layout capabilities for more visually compelling pages, dynamic document updating for changing information and enhanced security features.
"Netscape Navigator 1.1 is more than an update to the original: it is a significant new offering that lets users experience an even richer online environment," said Marc Andreessen, vice president of technology at Netscape Communications. "Our first version of Netscape Navigator captured the attention of users through its ease of use, integrated security and smooth performance over modem lines. By incorporating advanced features and unparalleled flexibility, Netscape Navigator 1.1 dramatically expands the online universe and lets users experience the next level in media-rich communications and commerce on the Net."
The 1.1 version of Netscape Navigator now available on the Internet is a public beta version, enabling users to provide feedback on the software's features and functionality across a wide range of computing platforms. As with the 1.0 release, Netscape will place the final version of Netscape Navigator 1.1 -- due out in April -- on the Internet for free downloading by students and staff in education and non-profit organizations, and for free evaluation by individuals and commercial organizations.
Available for all popular desktop environments, Netscape Navigator is a powerful commercial navigator for the Internet, offering high-performance and secure point-and-click network navigation. It is optimized to run smoothly over 14.4 kilobit/second modems as well as higher bandwidth lines, delivering performance up to ten times that of other network browsers. Netscape Navigator provides a common feature set and graphical user interface across computers running the Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, or X Window System operating environments. The 1.1 release adds support for two now emerging platforms: 32-bit MS Windows (WindowsNT and Windows95) and Macintosh PowerPC platforms.
Netscape Navigator 1.1's new capabilities include:
-- Advanced layout capabilities using HTML 3.0 tables and graphical backdrops. These capabilities allow more sophisticated page presentation, including multiple text columns and flexible image placement;
-- NCAPI providing sophisticated remote, control and inter-application communication capabilities via OLE/DDE on Windows, AppleEvents on Macintosh and X Events on UNIX. For example, third party applications such as a 3D viewer or rich document viewer can be tightly integrated with Netscape Navigator to allow more sophisticated media types to be used directly within the navigator;
-- Dynamic document updating, which enables Netscape Navigator to display continuously or other regularly updated information -- such as stock quotes, weather maps and other dynamic data;
-- Additional security options, including an enhanced US-only version with non-exportable encryption technology; and secure Usenet news/conferencing capabilities based on the application-independent Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. This protocol is compatible with Netscape's recently published SSL source code reference implementation called SSLRef, which has been licensed by more than 100 organizations and individuals. SSLRef is available on the Internet for non-commercial use and commercial evaluation and licensing to encourage its incorporation in a variety of networked applications;
-- Enhanced Usenet news interface, including hierarchical newsgroup browsing and searching, optimizations for low-bandwidth connections, and transparent Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) message handling for multimedia and hypermedia news postings.
Netscape Navigator 1.1, available for Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh and X Window System environments, can be obtained via anonymous FTP from ftp.netscape.com.
Individuals who download the software do so for evaluation use only. Commercial users can purchase supported licensed copies of Netscape Navigator directly from Netscape Communications. Pricing starts at $39 per user, which includes a 90-day warranty and customer support. Users who have purchased Netscape Navigator 1.0 are automatically licensed for full use of the 1.1 update. Volume discounts are available for multiple user licenses.
Netscape Communications Corp. is a premier provider of open software to enable people and companies to exchange information and conduct commerce over the Internet and other global networks. The company was founded in April 1994 by Dr. James H. Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics Inc., a Fortune 500 computer systems company; and Marc Andreessen, creator of the NCSA Mosaic(TM) research prototype for the Internet. Privately held, Netscape Communications Corp. is based in Mountain View.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corp. is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com or by calling 415-528-2555.
Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape, and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corp. All other product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
-0- 3/6/95
/CONTACT: Rosanne Siino of Netscape, 415-528-2619, or e-mail, rosanne@netscape.com/
CO: Netscape Communications Corp. ST: California IN: CPR SU: PDT
KL-MO -- LA008 -- 3784 03/06/95 08:21 EST
TODAY
BINGO
Nathaniel Adams Blanchard American Legion Post 1040
Where: 16 W. Poplar Drive, Delmar When: 7:30 p.m. Notes: Every Wednesday.
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church
Where: 440 Whitehall Road, Albany When: 7:30 p.m. Contact: 489-4442 Notes: Every Wednesday.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Computer classes
Where: Watervliet Public Library, 1501 Broadway, Watervliet When: 11 a.m.-noon Cost: Free Contact: 274-4471 Notes: Basic Internet skills for the beginner; offered every Wednesday during May; registration needed.
Savvy Caregiver
Where: Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center, 421 W. Columbia St., Cohoes When: 10 a.m.-noon Cost: Free Contact: 238-4164 Notes: For non-professional caregivers of a loved one with memory loss. Wednesdays through May 10. Registration needed.
COMMUNITY
College information session
Where: Empire State College's Northeast Center, 21 British American Blvd., Latham When: 5:30 p.m. Contact: 783-6203 or http://www.esc.edu Notes: Information about the college's flexible undergraduate program for working adults.
COMMUNITY SALES
Thrift shop
Where: Basement, Blessed Sacrament Church, 607 Central Ave., Albany When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: 482-9507 Notes: Every Wednesday and Saturday.
ENTERTAINMENT
Dancing With Our
Elders
Where: Trinity Institution, 15 Trinity Place, Albany When: 2 p.m. Cost: Free. Contact: Corey Ellis, 449-5155, Ext. 131 Notes: Learn a variety of dance styles including Latin, modern, salsa, meringue and folkloric.
GAMES & HOBBIES
Chess
Where: Friends Meeting House, 727 Madison Ave., Albany When: 7:15-9:45 p.m. Contact: Charles Eson, 861-6256 Notes: Albany Chess Club meets every Wednesday.
GOVERNING
Cohoes Board of Education
Where: Cohoes Middle School, 7 Bevan St., Cohoes When: 6:30 p.m. Contact: 237-4131 Notes: Annual budget hearing.
STORY TIME
Family Story Times for Spring
Where: Upper level, near Filene's, Crossgates Mall, 1 Crossgates Mall Road, Albany When: 10:30 a.m. Contact: 456-2400 Notes: Program for families with children 6 months to 7 years on most Wednesdays through May 24. Jointly presented by the Guilderland Public Library and Voorheesville Public Library.
THURSDAY
BINGO
Congregation Beth Abraham Jacob
Where: 380 Whitehall Road, Albany When: 7:30 p.m. Notes: Doors open at 6 p.m.; every Thursday.
VFW Post 1019
Where: 481 Washington Ave., Albany When: 8 p.m. Notes: Doors open at 6 p.m. Every Thursday.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Business planning
Where: College of Saint Rose, When: 6-9 p.m. Cost: $160 (includes materials and refreshments) Contact: 436-8586 Notes: Long-term business planning for people starting or expanding a micro enterprise. Sessions last for eight Thursdays starting today.
Hamlet planning
Where: Guilderland Fire Station, 2303 Western Ave., Guilderland When: 6:30 p.m. Notes: Residents and businesspeople can attend workshop to identify long-term plan to address development patterns, land uses and transportation options.
Landlord training
Where: Affordable Housing Partnership, 255 Orange St., Albany When: 5 p.m. Cost: Free, workbook is $10 Contact: 434-1730 or on the Web at http://www.ahphome.org Notes: Participants can learn about leases, management strategies and legal issues.
COMMUNITY
College information session
Where: Empire State College's Northeast Center, 21 British American Blvd., Latham When: 5:30 p.m. Contact: 783-6203 or http://www.esc.edu Notes: Information about the college's graduate degree programs.
Hazardous waste disposal
Where: Rapp Road Landfill, When: 4-7 p.m. Contact: Department of General Services, 434-2489 Notes: Albany residents can dispose of brake liquids, insecticides, pool chemicals, photo chemicals, and paints in an environmentally safe way. Registration needed; call (800) 494-2273.
Legal clinics
Where: Phillip Schuyler Elementary School, 141 Western Ave., Albany When: Evenings, by appointment only Cost: Free Notes: For individuals who need legal advice but cannot afford a lawyer.
Music jam
Where: Terrace Gallery, State Museum, Empire State Plaza at Madison Avenue, Albany When: 12-2 p.m. Cost: Free Contact: 474-5877 or 486-2024; E-mail: pkernan@mail.nysed.gov Notes: Public welcome to play own instruments or to listen; every Thursday
Poppy Days
Where: Boscov's Department Store, Colonie Center, Central Avenue and Wolf Road, Colonie When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Contact: 456-7794 Notes: Members of Robert L. Weininger VFW Post 8692 sell poppies Thursday through Saturday to benefit veterans and their families; tradition of Poppy Days goes back to World War I when poppies in the fields of France grew even during wartime.
COMMUNITY SALES
Thrift shop
Where: Cathedral of All Saints, 62 S. Swan St., Albany When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: 465-1342 Notes: Every Thursday
FARMERS MARKETS
Downtown Albany
Where: State Street and Broadway, Foot of State Street, Albany When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: 732-2991 Notes: Produce, organic produce, plants, summer bouquets, baked goods, crafts; every Thursday through Oct. 26.
GOVERNING
Colonie Town Board
Where: First floor hearing room, Memorial Town Hall, Route 9, Newtonville When: 8 p.m. Contact: 783-2734 Notes: Regular meeting.
Colonie Zoning Board of Appeals
Where: Public Operations Center, 347 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham When: 7 p.m. Contact: 783-2706
HEALTH
Medicare Part D
Where: St. Vincent dePaul Church, 900 Madison Ave., Albany When: 1-3 p.m. Contact: Mike Burgess, 783-6231; E-mail: swnys@aol.com Notes: Discussion of problems being faced by beneficiaries, caregivers, doctors, pharmacists and caregivers; sponsored by community groups.
Medicare Part D
Where: GuildCare Adult Day Care Health Care Center, 2 Clara Barton Drive, Albany When: 2:30-4:30 p.m. Contact: 396-3626 Notes: Prescription drug education and enrollment forum; reservations needed.
RECREATION
Guided bird walk
Where: Five Rivers Environmental Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar When: 7 a.m., start of program; 7:30 a.m. walk begins Cost: Free Contact: 475-0291 Notes: Center naturalists will offer tips for bird identification; participants can bring binoculars and bird identification books; Thursdays through May 26.
WORDS & IDEAS
The Everchanging Earth
Where: Museum theater, State Museum, Albany When: 7 p.m. Cost: Free Contact: 474-5877 Notes: Museum geologists discuss how rocks and fossils record history of Earth and evolutionary history of life.
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO
TIMES UNION ARCHIVE COMPUTER CLASSES teaching basic Internet skills are offered every Wednesday at the Watervliet Public Library.
